Guinea for small flock.

[Rchick2]

Hey everyone!
I just had my first chicken death today she was eaten by a fox. I want a Guinea or two for my backyard because I heard they are good "guard birds". I also heard they are loud and will walk away. I want them to be free range. I have about 2 acres of land and my neighbors are a older couple who are here for maybe a month or two every year, they will probably be moving soon and my other neighbor is a family about and our dogs go between our yards all the time. Do you think I will have issues with Guineas?

(On a side note if Guineas are not suitable do you think I could possibly add another chicken or something to the flock?) Thanks so much!

 

[CapricornFarm]

You generally need to have a flock of guineas, certainly one by itself would be miserable. You will need to keep guineas penned for a while so they get used to living there. Never know how it will work until you try.

 

[Rchick2]

You generally need to have a flock of guineas, certainly one by itself would be miserable. You will need to keep guineas penned for a while so they get used to living there. Never know how it will work until you try.

Do they need a separate coop from the chickens. The seven chickens I had have plenty of room in their coop and a whole roost they don't use. I could add 3 probably which I have seen kept together before. If I can keep them In the coop with the chickens what age would be the best to introduce them. Thanks!

 

[R2elk]

Do they need a separate coop from the chickens. The seven chickens I had have plenty of room in their coop and a whole roost they don't use. I could add 3 probably which I have seen kept together before. If I can keep them In the coop with the chickens what age would be the best to introduce them. Thanks!

I don't recommend housing guineas and chickens together. I also don't recommend getting fewer than 10 guineas. They are a flock bird and do best in large flocks of their own kind. Guineas are not chickens and do not have the same type of mannerisms that chickens have. They can seem to get along great together until the first breeding season arrives.

 

[Rchick2]

I don't recommend housing guineas and chickens together. I also don't recommend getting fewer than 10 guineas. They are a flock bird and do best in large flocks of their own kind. Guineas are not chickens and do not have the same type of mannerisms that chickens have. They can seem to get along great together until the first breeding season arrives.

Alright! Thanks for the input.

 

[Rchick2]

Hey again. I've really been thinking hard for the last few hours. Do you think I could build a relatively small/ medium sized shed (about 10x10) With a big covered run (20x20) and put 2-3 turkeys in there? (They would also have free roam on a daily basis once the are old enough) I have heard they are also good at spotting hawks and there have been stories of them teaming up to attacks small animals (sometimes raccoons). Any thoughts? Thanks again!
- Ryan

 

[BlueShadow]

Guineas are not guard birds. They do not attack predators. I have lost several guineas to raccoons and foxes. Despite the many stories of them attacking snakes, mine watch snakes with great interest, but the only snake they have ever killed was a VERY small baby garter snake.

Sometimes guineas do sound an alarm when they see a predator, but they do not sound an alarm at night, which makes them very limited usefulness, since most predator attacks come at night. My guineas do sound alarms for hawks and other birds, but they have never sounded an alarm for fox, coon, or even the dog attack we had (happened during the day). However, even if your guineas prove to be good at sounding an alarm, the actual protection for your flock comes from you, with a shotgun.

Spend time and money to upgrade your coop so coons and other predators can't get in it. Yes, you can add another hen to your flock, although you will want to keep the hen separate from your other birds for a month or so to make sure she is healthy, then introduce her slowly into the coop & pecking order. Get guineas for their independent, opinionated, loudmouthed natures. They are entertaining birds to have around and have plenty of positives (and negatives) of their own. Get guineas because you want guineas, if you get them to perform a certain task, the contrary little beasts are almost certain to disappoint.

 

[Chickiemom25]

Yes, you can add another hen to your flock, although you will want to keep the hen separate from your other birds for a month or so to make sure she is healthy, then introduce her slowly into the coop & pecking order. Get guineas for their independent, opinionated, loudmouthed natures. They are entertaining birds to have around and have plenty of positives (and negatives) of their own. Get guineas because you want guineas, if you get them to perform a certain task, the contrary little beasts are almost certain to disappoint.

I like to add birds in 2 or 3s because the gives the new comer a buddy if the flock shuns her initially. With a buddy, the 2 or 3 will do their own thing until the rest of the flock accepts them